Meet Prince Grootboom: The charismatic Jacob Tau in Netflix's Fatal Seduction

Prince Grootboom is one of the fresh talents on Mzansi screens. In the steamy thriller, he portrays a young man who has an affair with a married professor as he seeks to clear his late dad's tainted image. In a 2025 exclusive chat with GQ, the actor shared how the role changed his life, saying:

It gave me financial stability, enabling me to handle bills back at home and pay for my little sister's education. As an actor, I gained more confidence in my skills.

Key takeaway

• Before venturing into acting full-time, Prince Grootboom was a competitive dancer.
• In Fatal Seduction, he plays Jacob Tau, who seeks revenge against the people who framed his dad for a murder, pushing him to take his own life.
• Prince prefers to keep details about his personal life private.

Prince Grootboom's profile summary

Prince Grootboom is a Gqeberha native: Exploring his roots

Prince Grootboom was born and raised in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Speaking with GQ, he revealed that he shares a close relationship with his family, stating:

My mother is my rock, and my sister is my motivating factor to work hard so that I can give her the life I never had.

He added that his biggest challenge as an actor was being far from them:

I only see my family once a year because I work in Johannesburg or Cape Town. This is the part of my career I do not enjoy.

His transition from the dance floor to the big screen

Acting was not always on Prince's radar: he started as a dancer. During a May 2025 interview with the Daily Sun, Grootboom narrated how his dancing career paved the way for him to become an actor, revealing:

I have been a professional dancer since I was 15. I never considered joining the film industry; acting found me doing what I loved most, dancing. I used to watch dance films and be like, "One day I will be a lead actor or dancer in a movie." Somehow, I knew I would be good with the camera.

Prince made his acting debut in Netflix's dance series Jiva!

According to his IMDb profile, Grootboom bagged his first acting gig as Makhekhe in the 2021 film Jiva!. He soon started taking acting classes after many praised him for his ability to bring his character to life. Prince told GQ of his decision to become a full-time actor:

When producer Busisiwe Ntintili took a chance on me and gave me my first lead role, I realised I wanted to pursue acting professionally and never looked back.

Since then, Grootboom has starred in uBettina Wehu as Xhanti Ximiya, Inimba as Mawethu and 1802 Love Defies Time as Melisizwe.

Prince Grootboom's role in Fatal Seduction catapulted him to stardom

Prince narrated how he bagged a role in Fatal Seduction during his interview with GQ, admitting:

I was excited when I received news that I had passed the audition. I will always thank casting director Bonnie Lee Bouman for the opportunity.

In the steamy Netflix thriller, Grootboom plays Jacob Tau, who gets romantically entangled with Nandi Mahlati. The latter is the wife of Leonard Mahlati, who, together with his mistress, Brenda, framed his musician father Benjamin Jiba for the murder of a young girl.

Sadly, Jiba takes his own life, sending Tau into a spree that involves getting closer to the Mahlati family and taking his revenge. In the end, he ends up falling in love with Nandi.

He shared the screen with some of South Africa's finest actors

Grootboom starred alongside veteran actors, including Kgomotso Christopher (Nandi), Nathaniel Ramabulana (Vuyo) and Thapelo Mokoena (Leonard) in Fatal Seduction. Speaking about the lessons he gained from them, Prince told GQ:

Their work ethic and dedication to their craft inspired me. Another thing I observed was how they were constantly finding new ways to add depth and colour to their characters.

A look at Prince's career goals: What lies ahead for the budding actor

Thanks to his Fatal Seduction role, Grootboom is best known as a lover boy and sex symbol. However, he is open to diversifying into other on-screen capabilities.

Prince is eager to explore action roles that will push his body out of its comfort zone and stretch his on-screen emotions in drama.

FAQs

Prince commands 65.1k Instagram followers at the time of writing. Below are some frequently asked questions about him.

Who is Prince Grootboom's wife?

Prince is not married and does not have kids. It is unclear whether he is in a romantic relationship, as he keeps details about his love life private.

Is Prince Grootboom related to Noxolo Grootboom?

No credible reports suggest Prince Grootboom is related to retired TV reporter Noxolo Grootboom. The similarity in their names appears to be purely coincidental.

Final word

A former dancer, actor Prince Grootboom, is making waves in the film industry with his role as Jacob Tau in Fatal Seduction. His natural talent and charismatic personality set him apart in the ever-evolving and competitive space.

READ MORE: Obed Baloyi's story: from street vendor to SAFTA-winning actor

Briefly.co.za shared the biography of South African actor Obed Baloyi. As a young boy, he helped his mother sell fruits and vegetables on the streets. Baloyi began acting in high school around 1987, but formally entered the theatre scene in 1996, when he formed the Mangava Drama Group.

Baloyi transitioned to television in 2000 and played Tsutsuma in Ga Re Dumele for six seasons. His performance in this role earned him two nominations for Best Actor in a TV Comedy at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA), winning in 2014.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News